In the spotlight
By Ms Kath Notley, Director of Service Learning
Held from 4 to 10 August, this year’s National Student Volunteer Week celebrates the theme Powered by Purpose, recognising the values and motivations that inspire young people to take meaningful action in their communities.
At Radford College, this theme aligns closely with our commitment to Service Learning. Our students are not only encouraged to give back but to build genuine connection, develop confidence and discover a strong sense of purpose. Through volunteering, they grow in empathy, strengthen their leadership and become empowered to shape a more just, inclusive and sustainable world.
Student volunteering is more than an activity, it is a journey of transformation. Powered by Purpose
highlights the beliefs, passions and values that motivate students to contribute to causes they care about. This is exactly what Radford College’s service-learning program aims to nurture.
Service learning at Radford College provides:
- Deep and active participation in real-life service experiences.
- Reflection that helps students understand themselves and the world they live in.
- Opportunities to apply skills and knowledge beyond the classroom.
- A strengthened sense of care and connection with the wider community.
The impact of service learning extends beyond the individual. It helps to:
- Build strong partnerships between Radford College and community organisations.
- Encourage parent and family involvement, often through shared service experiences.
- Address real community needs.
- Offer students authentic opportunities to engage with and learn from local leaders and community members.
By the time a student enters the Senior School, we aim for them to have developed:
- A genuine sense of empathy that drives moral action, inspired by Roman Krznaric’s belief that empathy needs to make a difference.
- A broadened and challenged understanding of what it takes to build a fair, inclusive and diverse community.
- A growing confidence in their ability to contribute as informed and compassionate citizens.
As we celebrate National Student Volunteer Week, we proudly recognise the purposeful contributions our students make through service. At Radford, service learning is a platform for young people to lead with empathy, act with integrity and become changemakers for the future.
